Centrifugal machine



2 Sheets-Sheet l.

(No Model.)

G, C. ROBERTS.

GBNTRIPUGAL MACHINE.

No. 386,788. Patented July 24, 1888.

N. Pneus mmmmnpw, wlmangeon. D c.

(No Medel.) 2 sheets-sheen 2.

G. C. ROBERTS.

CBNTRIFUGAL MACHINE. No. 886,788. Peeented Julylz4, 1888.

ne@ e W8 m Y L UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE C. ROBERTS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE TROY LAUNDRY MACHINERY COMPANY, OF TROY, NEV YORK.

CENTRIFUGAL. MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 386,788, dated July 24, 1888.

Application filed harch 20, 1888.

To all whom, t may concern,.-

Be itknown that I, GEORGE C. ROBERTS, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Centrifugal Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in centrifugal separators or apparatus employed for extracting by centrifugal action fluid from solid substances.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described, and pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is herein shown as embodied in a machine intended more especially for use in laundries for the purpose of extracting water from clothing or other articles preparatory to drying the saine.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure l is a central vertical section taken upon line 1 l of Fig. 2 of an extractor embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is asectional plan view of the extractor shown in Fig. l, taken upon line 2 2 of said Fig. l. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail section taken upon line 3 3 of Figs. l and et. Fig. +L is an enlarged detail section of the parts shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail section taken upon line 5 5 of Fig. 1.

Asillustrated in the said drawings, A is the stationary' casing or shell of the machine,

' which is supported by means of standards A A' from a bed-plate, A2.

B is a revolving perforated cylinder located within the casing A, within which cylinder the articles from which the water is to be extracted are placed. Said perforated cylinder B is mounted upon the upper end of a vertical shaft, C, which passes through a cent-ral aperture, a, in the bottom of the receptacle A, and has bearingat its lower end in a long vertical bearing-box, D. This bearing-box is pivotally supported from or upon the bed-plate A2, and is held in vertical position by means of a pla rality of outwardly-extending rigid arms E E E, which are rigidly attached to the box and connected at their free ends with the bed-plate Serial No. 208.95m (No model.l

A2 by means of spring-conneetions F F F. Said sIning-eonnections are so adjusted as to hold the shaft C normally vertical, but are adapted to yield so as to allow the shaft and the cylinder carried thereon to seek and maintain an axis ot' rotation passing through the center of gravity of the cylinder and its load.

G is a driving-pulley aiiixed to the shaft C near its lower end, said pulley being made hollow and arranged to extend over or around the pivotal support ofthe shaft C, so that the bearing-surface of the pulley is brought centrally opposite the pivotal axis of the bearing l).

The pivotal connection between the bearing D and the machine-frame is formed by means of a ball-and'socket joint located between the ends ofthe bearing, which lattcris constructed to extend both above and below the balland socket joint. Said bearing D consists of a metal sleeve or box, D, provided at its middle part with a spherical enlargement, d, the exterior surface of which is fitted within a correspondiugly-shaped socket, h, formed in a tubular standard, H, which is bolted to the bed-plate A. The socket h is shown as provided with a removable cap, h', to allow the insertion and removal of the bearing in and from the socket. The arms E E are rigidly attached to the lower end of the sleeve D', said arms extending outwardly through lateral openings lr h'l in the tubular standard H. Said arms are attached to the sleeve D by being made integral with a ring, E, which ring is tit-ted over the eylindric lower end of the said sleeve and secured thereto by set-screws c, as herein shown, or by other securing device. This construction obviously affords a simple and convenient means ot' attaching the arms to the bearing-sleeve, enabling the parts to be readily connected in putting the machine together.

The bearingbox D' is constructed in detail as follows: Said box D is made somewhat larger in its interior diameter than the exterior diameter ot' the lower end of the shaft, and within said box is placed a tubular lining, D2, which will commonly be made of brass or other soft metal, such as is used for bearings. The liningI l)2 is provided in its exterior surface with longitudinal grooves d d and con- IOU tains holes or perforations cl2 d2, leading from said grooves inwardly to the bearing-surface of the sleeve. Within the spherical enlargement d the box D is provided with an oil recess or chamber, d, which communicateswith the vertical passages formed by the grooves d d, and the bearingsurfaces are supplied with oil from said recess through the pcrforations d? d2 and said passages. The grooves d d terminate short of the ends of the sleeve'D2, so that the end portions of said sleeve tit tightly or make a closejoint with the inner surface of the box.

D3 is a step or bearing-block, which is fitted within the lower part of the bearing-box in the manner clearly shown in the drawings.

D4L is a set-screw inserted through an axial lhole in the lower part of the sleeve D and bearing against the under s'urface of said Astep or bearing-block D3. By turning the setscrew the vertical position of the shaft may obviously be adjusted as desired.

d is an oil-escape pipe, desirably inserted in the sleeve Din such manner as to communicate with the bottom of the recess within the sleeve below the lining d. as clearly shown in the drawings, Figs. l and 2.

The springconnecting devices F, which unite the outer ends of the several arms E E E with the bed-plate AIl of the machine, embrace metal yokes F, which are pivoted at their lower ends to the bed-plate, and rods F3, pivoted to the ends of the arms E, inserted through the top plates of the yokes and provided at their lower ends with disks, between which disks and the top of the yoke are located coiled springs. These parts are constructed in the same manner as shown and described in a prior application for patent, Serial No. 2951, made by George N. Downs, July 11, l 7.

In the use of a machine ofthe character described, wherein the shaft passes through an opening in the bottom ot' the shell or casing A, it sometimes occurs that, by the breakage of parts or for some other reason, the cylinder and upper end of the shaft, when in rapid rotation, are thrown laterally, so as to bring the cylinder or shaft against the shell or the edge of the opening in the shell. An occurrence of this kind is liable to cause great injury to, if not the complete destruction of, the machine. To avoid liability of injury iu case of an occurrence of this kind, I mount upon the shaft a freely-rotating ring, and I provide a stationary bearing'- ring surroundingr the rotating ring and located in such position that it will be engaged by the rotating ring` in case the shaft is mounted upon the shaft, is desirably provided with an external ring or collar, of rubber or some other soft or yielding material, formingi a cushion to preventjar when the parts come together.

As shown in the said drawings, and as more clearly seen in Figs. 3 and 4, I is a ring which is supported upon the shaft C by means of a hub, l', secured to the shaft by means of a key, as shown, or otherwise, and having a groove or rabbet. i, at its upper end, affordinga bearing for said ring. A separate cap, I2, secured to the upper end of the collar, serves to hold the ring in place, and enables the same to be removed from its bearing when desired. The said ring I is desirably provided with a groove or annular depression, 1J', upon its inner cylindric bearing-face to lessen the area of the surfaces in frictional contact and to serve as a reservoir for a lubricant.

J is a ring, of rubber or other elastic material, placed around and projecting from the periphery of the ring I, said ring I being herein shown as grooved to receive the said elastic or flexible ring. l p

K is astationary bearing-ring, which is herein shown as supported upon the bottom of the casing A and as placed around the margins of the opening a in the said casino".`

Said ring Kis provided with an inner cylindric bearing-surface arranged opposite the ring I in position for contact with the latter when the shaft is moved sidewise. Said ring K is held in place upon the casing by being fitted in a rabbet, a', formed partially or entirely by a raised rib, a2, upon the upper surface of the bottom of the casing adjacent to the opening a. The said ring K is further secured in place by means of screws k k,inserted through the bottom wall of the casing into the said ring, in the manner clearly shown in the drawings.

The cylinder B of the extractor is shown in the drawings as constructed in a manner heretofore well known, the bottom of said cylinder being formed by two convex plates, b b', secured to a flanged sleeve between a suit-able collar or shoulder, c, and a nut, c', placed upon the upper threaded end of the shaft,serv ing to hold said sleeve B rigidly upon the shaft. Said cylinder B is provided at its upper edge with an inwardly-extending iiange, B, while the outer casing, A, is provided with asimilar flange, A3, arranged in a manner heretofore well known in devices of this character.

\ L L, Figs. 1, 2. and 5, indicate two guidepulleys for the driving-belt. Said guide-pulleys are mounted upon arms L L', attached to a cross-bar, L", which is supported at its ceuter by means of a vertical standard, L3, bolted to the bed-plate A2 of the machine. The pulleys are arranged horizontally opposite the main driving-pulley G, and the supportingconvex engaging-surfaces so arranged as to afford adjustment of the said arms L, both horizontally and vertically, or, in other words, giving universal adjustment to the drive-pulleys. Intheparticularconstructionillustrated the bar L2 is provided at its outer end with recessed or cup-shaped vertical plates ZZ, within which are fitted the convex surfaces of vertically-arranged plates Z Z upon the arms L" L. The arms L L are adj ustably held upon the cross-bar L2 by means of bolts Z2 finserted through said plates Z', and through horizontally-elongated apertures Zi" in the concave plates ZZ. This construction obvionslyalfords a greater latitude of adjustment horizontally than vertically, this being the direction in which change in the position of the pulleys is most likely to be required. Said slots Z l: may, however, be made of sufficient width to give any desired amount of vertical adjustment in the pulleys. rllie said cross-bar L2 is provided with a central ring, L4, surrounding the cylindrie standard If', a set-screw, 1*, being inserted through the said ring and bearing upon the standard for holding the supportingarms rigidly in position. The said cylindric standard L3 affords the desired vertical bodily adjustment of the pulleys and supporti ngarms.

M is a brake-shoe arrange'l to act upon the belt-pulley G at the side of the latter nearest the guide-pulleys L L,so that said brake-shoe will not interfere with the belt and will act to thrust the pulley in the direction opposite to thatin which it tends to move by the pull of the belt. Said brake-shoe is mounted upon a vertical lever, lli', pivoted at m to the base of the machine, and having a horizontal leverarm, Mi, to the free end of which is attached a foot-piece, m', for operating the brake.

Vith relation to the features above described for limiting the lateral movement of the shaft, it will be entirely obvious that the same practical result will be obtained in aconstruetion in which the bearing-ring K or its equivalent is sustained in position to engage the ring i otherwise than being attached directly to the shell or casing A. This part of the invention, as herein claimed, therefore, is not limited to a construct-ion of said ring in which said ring is attached to or forms a part of said casing. The ring K, when supported upon the easing, may obviously be made integral with the same without departure from my invention.

I am aware that it has heretofore been proposed to employ in centrifugal extractors arotating ring surroundingand free from the shaft of the extractor and adapted to be turned by the shaft when thelatter comes in contact with the ring, as` illustrated, for instance, in a prior patent, No. 380,555, granted to G. N. Downs,

April 3, 1888. A revolving ring or collar mounted directly upon the shaft and adapted to engage astationary ring when the shaft is inclined has the important advantage of being much more easily turned than a ring sustained at its outer edge, the prompt and free turning of the ring being esssential to the successful operation of the device, owing to the high speed at which the shaft is rotated. The construction in the ring herein described and claimed is much more simplethan that shown in said prior patent, a ring which is sustai ned by beari ugs at its outer edge requiring anti-friction bearing-rollers in order to enable it to turn with sufficient freedom to be of any utility whatever.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination,with the perforated re` volving cylinder of a. centrifugal extractor, a shaft supporting the same, a bearing for the shaft constructed to allow the inclination of the shaft, and an exterior shell or receptacle provided with an aperture in its bottomlarger than the shaft for the passage of the latter, of a ring mounted upon the shaft and adapted to rotate freely thereon and a stationary ring in position for engagement with the ring upon the shaft when said shaft is inclined, substantially as described.

2. The coi'nbination,with the perforated revolving cylinder of a centrifugal extractor, a shaft supporting the same, a bearing for the shaft constructed to allow the inclination of the shaft, and an exterior shell or receptacle provided in its bottom with an aperture larger than the shaft, of a ring mounted to rotate freely upon the shaft, said ring being provided with a peripheral cushion, and a stationary ring sustained in position to engage the ring upon the shaft when said shaftis inclined,sub stantially as described.

3. In a centrifugal extractor, the combination,with the revolving cylinder and shaft, of a drive-pulley upon the shaft, a frame provided with a cylindricstaudard, L", and a horizontal bar, U. fitted to slide upon the standard, arms L L', attached to the said horizontal bar, and guide-pulleys L2, mounted upon the outer ends of said arms, the joints between said arms and the horizontal bar bei ng formed with concave and convex surfaces having the form of spherical segments and affording universal angular adjustment of the said arms with relation to the bar, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention l affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE C. ROBERTS.

.Vitnesses:

C. CLARENCE PooLn, O. N. WILLIS.

IIO 

